운동 지속실천자의 운동행동 변화단계 체험

Abstract

This study explored the perceptions and specific behaviors of habitual exercisers who experienced the entire stages of exercise behavior change. Six habitual exercisers who were in the maintenance stage provided information on how they experienced through the entire stages of exercise behavior change. Qualitative data collection strategies such as participant observation and focus group interviews were employed. Most of the participants had positive attitude toward physical activity when they were in their pre-contemplation and contemplation stages. Accordingly, the positive attitude had indirect influences on joining their sports(basketball). Overall, friends and colleagues were major motivators to make them adopt physically active lifestyle. In preparation stage, participants experienced positive and negative effects of group dynamics. While supportive group environment had positive influences on continued participation, bland environment had negative consequences. For those in their preparation stage, it is recommended that efforts should be made to promote enriched group environment. Action and maintenance stages were characterized by improved physical fitness and skill levels. In addition, the participants were more interested in self-related factors and were more stable in terms of social impacts. It was found that the participants in their action and maintenance stages were able to change negative events to positive ones and reinforce themselves intrinsically. The participants reported that positive and adaptive mental processes that they experienced in the action and maintenance stages played significant roles in their job situations and active lifestyles. These findings support the concept of stages of behavior change and help understand how exercisers perceive and behave in each stage of exercise behavior change.